What is ISO 1641-1 – End mills and slot drills about?
ISO 1641-1 is the first part of the ISO 1641 multi-series that discusses end mills and slot drills.
ISO 1641-1 specifies the general dimensions of the following milling cutters with plain cylindrical, flatted cylindrical and threaded shanks:
- End mills, flat-ended or ball-nosed — standard series and long series
- Slot drills — short series and standard series
The dimensional characteristics of cylindrical shanks are in accordance with ISO 3338-1, ISO 3338-2 and ISO 3338-3.
Note: ISO 1641-1 does not apply to solid hard metal end mills and slot drills.
Who is ISO 1641-1 – End mills and slot drills for?
ISO 1641-1 on milling cutters with cylindrical shanks is useful for:
- Manufacturers of end mills and drill bits
- Suppliers of end mills and drill bits
- Quality control personnel
Why should you use ISO 1641-1 – End mills and slot drills?
End mills are used for plunging, plunging, counterboring, contouring etc., of a workpiece or machining a die. The dimensions of these end mills need to be precise or else their functionality might get compromised.
ISO 1641-1 provides you with detailed dimensions for milling cutters that help you in the production and quality control phases. ISO 1641-1 when used in conjunction with ISO 3338-1, ISO 3338-2 and ISO 3338-3 also provides you acceptable tolerances for milling cutters.
In conclusion, the guidelines of ISO 1641-1 help you to produce quality end mills and slot drills.

